Noesi pitches better, still can’t get the win

SAN DIEGO – It was another loss, but a step in the right direction for Seattle’s Hector Noesi.

Edinson Volquez pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and Alexi Amarista hit a two-run double as the San Diego Padres beat the Mariners 2-0 on Sunday.

Noesi (2-9) had one of his better recent outings as he allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. But the right-hander still ended the day by extending his career-high losing streak to six games.

Noesi also is tied with Baltimore’s Jake Arrieta for the major league lead in losses.

“I thought he threw the ball better,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “He was much more consistent, ready with everything.”

Noesi, who hasn’t won since May 6 against Minnesota, allowed a two-run double to Alexi Amarista in the fourth inning for the only runs of the game.

“I didn’t know he was going to swing at the first pitch,” said Noesi, who added he was just trying to get ahead with a fastball but it was “up.”

That was all Volquez (4-7) needed as he was in command, allowing just four singles in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander was not hurt by the control issues that have hampered him this season.

Volquez, who leads the majors in walks with 55, walked three but was rarely stressed by the Mariners. He combined with three relievers for the five-hitter.

Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 10th save in as many chances.

It was an emotional day for the Padres, who found out that longtime bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds died from pancreatic cancer on Sunday morning.

Volquez won for just the second time in his last eight starts. He had been 1-5 with a 5.72 ERA in his last seven, while walking at least three in each of those outings.

Seattle, which has lost three of four, did not have a runner advance past second base. The Mariners had scored 32 runs in the first five games of the road trip.

“I thought overall we swung the bats well,” Wedge said. “I don’t know how many hard-hit balls we had but it was quite a few. We were just a little on the tough-luck side of things.”

The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth on a leadoff walk to Chase Headley and consecutive singles by Chris Denorfia and John Baker.

Cameron Maybin then hit a liner right back to Noesi, who caught the ball at the last moment. But on the next pitch, Amarista hit a ball over the head of left fielder Casper Wells that bounced into the stands for a two-run double.

Notes

Volquez is 3-0 in four career starts against the M’s. … Noesi’s other start against San Diego was a 1-0 loss on June 13 when he allowed the game’s only run on a home run. … San Diego finished with an 8-7 interleague record, just the third time in 16 years of interleague play that the Padres had a winning record. … Denorfia extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games, the longest by a Padres player this season. … M’s Erasmo Ramirez (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will face A’s Tommy Milone (7-5, 4.13) when Seattle returns home tonight.